First Howl

Takaya first captured my attention when I saw a news clip of him when he was first spotted on Discovery Island while I was in Victoria. In 2018, I watched the documentary Takaya: Lone Wolf with my parents in Ontario. I spoke of how this was the wolf that had captured my attention. Reflecting on why Takaya was on his own, far from his pack, I envisioned what it must have been like for him to howl for the first time, with his mother next to him and his pack nearby. In 2019, I moved back to Vancouver Island. On January 25, 2020, after a week of snowfall in Victoria, I walked to Fisherman's Wharf to bring back salmon for dinner. Fate turned a corner when I saw Takaya moving briskly down the sidewalk. It was like a dream. He was so beautiful! I was there when he was tranquilized and saw him being carried out for relocation. His death affected me deeply - if only he had a chance to make his own pack. Takaya's beauty and gentle presence will always remain with me.